Everyone has been talking about "fake news" for months now. Well, I think our issue goes much deeper in our current society. Beyond fake news, I see lots of "fake comments" or "false beliefs". I was struck this morning by headlines like, "British Prime Minister calling for internet regulation...". I mean seriously? Is this really the best strategy to help stop terrorist attacks? Any thinking person will come to the conclusion that censoring or "regulating" the internet will do nothing to stop terrorist organizing.
It is these types of false narratives that can be so destructive to our society. It is also the use of fear to manipulate people into doing whatever elites want them to do. Yes, a terrorist attack is a very grim event and we all feel the pain when lives are lost to them, but what about the thousands of people that will die in England this year from poverty? Or from untreated mental illness? or drug addiction?
How about the thousands that will die in the US this year from alcohol related car accidents or medical conditions? What do we have to say for the millions of children who live in poverty and are abused daily? Is regulating the internet going to actually help us to solve any of these issues?
The answer is a resounding "NO". Information has always been critical to having productive discussions and to progress itself. Just because a few fringe groups might be using a specific tool or technology does not make the technology bad nor does it require us to restrict its use to the billions of people who use it every day. Stop believing the lies and think for yourself.
